Three golfers managed to shoot four rounds in the 60s in the 2013 Porter Cup, the 55^th playing of the event. Only one of them, Taylor Pendrith, was able to go deep into the 60s.

His 63 during Friday’s third round made the difference as he donned the champion’s green jacket after completing a drizzly, five-stroke victory over Tyler Dunlap.

Pendrith, from Richmond Hill, Ontario (near Toronto), made his debut tournament one for the ages. The other golfers to avoid the 70s were Kramer Hickock (T6th) and Alejandro Tosti (T8th.)

Taylor Pendrith

Pendrith logged 25 birdies over the course of four rounds at the Niagara Falls (NY) Country Club. The rising senior at Kent State (OH) University and member of Team Canada dominated the inward nine, thrice posting scores of five-under 31. On championship Saturday, Pendrith widened his one-stroke advantage over countryman (and fellow Team Canada member) Justin Shin by birdieing Nos. 4, 5 and 6. He entered the back nine with a four-stroke lead, increased it to five, then held off the challengers during the only rain of the week to become the first Canadian champion since Danny Mijovic in 1984.

Scoreboard Tells The Story

The toughest job in golf is leading a tournament from start to finish. Justin Shin nearly pulled it off at the Lewiston (five miles north of Niagara Falls) Club. Shin’s Wednesday 64 gave him a one-shot advantage over Tyler Dunlap of Trophy Club, Texas, and Texas A&M University. Dunlap matched his opening 65 on Thursday to reverse roles and lead by one. Friday turned out to be the blue-light special day of low scores and no one went lower than Taylor Pendrith’s 63 (although two other players matched it.) Shin fired his second-consecutive 67 to remain in the hunt, one back of Pendrith.

Justin Shin

Unfortunately for Shin, the front nine on Saturday was not so kind. After bogeys on three of the first six holes, the New Mexico State golfer found himself six strokes in arrears. One birdie on the back nine was not enough to challenge for the title, but Shin still earned a tie for third place at ten under par.

Tied with him was Australia’s Brady Watt, who carded four birdies against three bogies for a Saturday 69. Watt’s undoing was the par five holes; he played them one-over par on Saturday, when birdies and eagles were within reach. Alone in second was Tyler Dunlap, who also struggle to find momentum during the fourth round. Dunlap’s final-round 69 held too many bogies and not enough birdies to threaten Pendrith’s lead.

Tyler Dunlap.

Most surprising was the inability of the pre-tournament favorites to mount any challenge throughout the week. Walker Cup USA team members Patrick Rodgers and Max Homa finished tied for 17^th and 8^th, respectively. 2012 U.S. Amateur runner-up Michael Weaver tied for 42^nd place. Only 2013 British Amateur runner-up Toni Hakula of Finland mounted anything resembling a Saturday charge, but his six-under 64 was not enough to overcome an opening-round 74. Hakula finished in 5^th place alone, 8 strokes behind the champion.